HPU’s Brown named Big South Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Week

Redshirt-freshman forward John Brown has been named Big South Freshman of the Week, the conference announced on Monday. He scored 28 points with eight rebounds in his collegiate debut.

Brown posted game-highs of 28 points, eight rebounds, five steals and three blocks as the Panthers topped UNC Greensboro, 81-73, in the season opener for both teams last Friday. It was Brown’s first game in over a year as he sat out the 2011-12 campaign.

Brown’s one-handed alley-oop dunk on a pass from Allan Chaney in the second half was featured as ESPN SportsCenter’s No. 1 play on Saturday. It was listed as ESPN’s No. 5 play of the weekend on Monday.

HPU newcomers accounted for 75 of the Panthers’ 81 points and 23 of 41 rebounds against UNC Greensboro. Chaney was next after Brown, scoring 15 points with seven rebounds in just 16 minutes of play. Freshman guard Adam Weary scored 10 points and freshman forward Lorenzo Cugini scored nine.

The Panthers are back in action with a pair of games this week. HPU plays at Appalachian State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Boone, N.C. The game is a rematch from the ESPN BracketBuster matchup in 2010-11. High Point hosts William & Mary on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Millis Center.

VIDEO: ESPN SportsCenter No. 5 play of the weekend